Time for a Weekend Roll Call.......

Well the weekend is here! I am happy for that but sad cuz my best buddy who has been here from California since I had my surgery is going home These two weeks have flown by! But it's time for me to fly solo I guess! I want to swim, but I'm not sure the weather will cooperate. If it doesn't, I'll walk, walk, walk.... I have tentative plans to go to my friend's lake house in Ellington. If it rains, I guess we can always shop The past two weeks were not easy. I guess I underestimated how addicted to food I am, but the bottom line is that I made it! I'm down 15 lbs, feel better already, am off blood pressure meds , and am psyched to start trying food again. I am so grateful to Dr. Bell for having the skill to perform this surgery. I hope you all have a wonderful, healthy, happy weekend. Linda, I hope Mom's ok! JA

Hi Linda!!! I love reading your posts - they are always full of so much information! As you know, I am working 2 full-time jobs and squeezed a part-time job in there too. Well, here's an update. I might be getting a promotion at Star (already) and can leave Health Net! I think I will get the final word about this next week, but let's hope it works out. Then I will work just one full-time job, and might leave The Fox as well, we'll see about that one. I will have a lot more free time! I've met someone that had this surgery in the middle of January and he's been a wonderful help to me. He will help me eat better (I am not getting the protein in) and he's a true blessing! He's doing really well and is an inspiration to me! I am at the gym every morning now from 5:45 to 7:30. I walk 2 miles on the treadmill, the last 2 minutes I run to bring my heart rate up and then I do a little cool down for about 2 minutes. Then 2-3 miles on the bike. Then this weird stepper thing that I can only tolerate for like a minute and a half! I hit the tanning booth and then shower. I am 6 weeks out, down 44 pounds and feeling like a million bucks! Almost under 200 pounds - can't wait!! I hope your moms wrist is okay! She just wanted to meet some hot EMT guy, I know how it is! Tara

Happy Friday! Thanks, Linda, for keeping this going. For once, I'm not going anywhere for the weekend, and I couldn't be happier!! After the move last weekend, the better part of this weekend will be spent unpacking and organizing -- not among my favorite activities, but it does need to be done. Saturday we're going down to Norwalk for the SoNo Arts Celebration. It's always a great time, lots of art/jewelry, etc. & entertainment. A good friend of John's is playing with his band Satruday evening, so we're going to make an evening of it. I'm also hoping to use my good friend for her pool on Sunday if I can. I haven't done any sunbathing or swimming all summer, and I'm way overdue. My gym doesn't have a pool -- I really, really wish they did, because that would be the best exercise, considering my knee is so arthritic that classes are difficult. I did a yoga class last night & did some advanced poses -- my leg/knee feels it today!! Thanks again, Linda, for the weekly prompt. Kathy F.

Yeah!!! The weekend is here!! It looks like the rain is gone for now so it should be a great weekend. Linda, I am glad to hear that you are all moved in to your new place. I can't imagine moving again ever.... We have accumulated so much stuff it would be a nightmare! Chryssie, I am glad to hear that you are coping well with your liquid diet. Consider yourself lucky and you are almost through it. JA, this part of the eating plan will be behind you before you know it and you will feel almost normal again about eating. I am still holding steady at about 110lbs lost and wearing a size 12. I don't see it going down anytime in the near future but I am okay with that too. I feel so much better now and don't feel like I stick out in a crowd anymore. I just feel like another chubby chic. Coming from where I came from, I probably feel a lot thinner than other girls my size. My goal right now is to keep up the excersize and make sure I try to make as many healthy food choices as possible. I am going to a picnic on Sat. and hopefully doing some hiking on Sunday if the weather holds out. I am getting excited because I am going to Maine (Acadia)for 12 days with my family. My parents and brothers are also going so it should be a great time. I hope to hike, canoe and keep as active as possible while I am there and not gain weight like I have in the past. It is hard because there is always so much food. I hope to see many of you soon at the social gathering in Sept.

Hi Linda, So sorry to hear about your mom. Hopefully she will be feeling better soon. I am getting my last minute things together this weekend before I have my WLS on monday. I still don't know what time I need to be at the hospital. They havn't called yet. I have my baby nephew till 4pm. He did the cutest thing today I have to share. He is 4 months old and I was rocking him and he past out cold but he was smiling. He must have been having a good dream because out of no where he starts laughing hysterically(still sleeping). He did that for about 10 minutes on and off. It gave me such a chuckle. Nothing planned for saturday, Sunday I have the babies Christening(better late than never). Monday is the big day and I am a nervous wreck. I have been depressed the past few days and I could not for the life of me tell you exactly why. I'm don't have any doubts about having the surgery. I think I'm starting to mourn food already. I'm trying to keep positive and hopefyllu this will pass. Just got a call, I have to be at the hospital at 8:30A.M. My surgery is scheduled for 10:30A.M.. It's all going to happen so fast. Hope you all have a great weekend. ~Julie~

Julie -- You're on your way. It's normal to have so many conflicting emotions you don't know where to turn when you're waiting for this surgery. The first thing you need to do is concentrate on getting through the surgery with flying colors & doing what the doctors tell you to maximize you recovery. I hope that it is as quick and uneventful as possible. You will mourn food, but in the beginning, you'll be too out of it to care!! I'll be saying my prayers for you that you have a smooth transition to the "losers's side." Good luck!!! Kathy F.

Hi Julie, I just wanted to wish you "smooth sailing" on Monday. I know you will be just fine. Everything you are feeling is totally normal, believe me. I was depressed too right before and right after surgery ... you're mourning the loss of a friend, "food", but before you know it, you'll be on the losing side and feeling like a million bucks! It's well worth it! Good luck, and as they say in show biz "break a leg" on Monday! xo JA

Sorry to hear about your mom's fall. Does she live with you? I had helped with my mom's care before her problems became severe enough that she needed to be in a nursing facility. Congrats on joining the century club! That is an amazing acheivement. I can't comprehend being thin yet either. I can't even comprehend being "thin-ish" It feels like it's been so long since I have been there but I am ready!

Hi Linda and Everybody, Tomorrow I will washing our clothes and will pack my daughter's clothes to pack suitcase. She is so excited to spend my two favorite aunts for a week. They never said NO! to her and do anything what she wants!!!!!! We will go to Nicky s friend surprise birthday party for her 50th on late aftenroon. We are still working on putting drysheet up in our addition (Half way to go) Have a nice weekend By the way I went to see my PCP dr yesterday and she gave me thumb up for this surgery and will send paper works to Dr Aranow through Fax. I was surprised I lost more weight. So far I lost 28 pounds and have to go see Lois for weight in soon as possible. Kathy K.

I'm off to Waterford tonight for my friend's 60th birthday...I'll get lots of oooohs and aaaaaahhhhs from the crowd for my 35 lb weight loss! Tomorrow at "oh-dark-thirty" we leave for Pennsylvania for the weekend to attend a Jack Russell Trial. We have two Jack Russells and they love these trials-they get to do agility, go-to-ground (going in the tunnels after the rat); lure coursing and racing. We'll be surrounded by hundreds of Jack Russells, jumping and barking ALL DAY LONG. LOL! We're staying in an expensive room, complete with jacuzzi. I'm planning on going in...should make the suture line feel GREAT! Hope you all have a safe and happy weekend!